Federal Grant Award Summary

West Virginia Advocates, Inc., doing business as Disability Rights of West Virginia, received a $188,180 Formula Grant award from the Administration on Disabilities under the Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities-Grants for Protection and Advocacy Systems program (CFDA 93.618), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. This award funds comprehensive voting access initiatives designed to ensure full electoral participation for individuals with disabilities throughout West Virginia. Key deliverables include voter registration assistance, ballot access support, polling place accessibility guidance, and education regarding accessible voting equipment. The organization also provides training to election officials and poll workers on the rights of voters with disabilities and best practices for serving disabled constituents, while offering direct assistance to individuals with disabilities in filing complaints related to voting access under Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requirements and representing individuals in administrative grievance hearings.

Additionally, the award supports systemic advocacy and technical assistance activities focused on HAVA implementation in West Virginia, as well as training on accessible voting systems and non-visual access technologies. West Virginia Advocates operates as the state's designated Protection and Advocacy System, delivering these federally-funded services directly without identified subcontractors, thereby providing statewide coverage for protection and voting rights advocacy services to West Virginia's disability community.